Illuminating Advent
I remember my mom’s homemade yule log…
I can recall the greyish-white bark as the log sat on our dining room table, four taper candles sitting across the length of the top, tinsel garland swirled between them, and a plastic ‘Merry Christmas’ plaque that I’m sure was re-purposed from a cake that was indulged in years ago that has been saved and reused many, many times.
Each Sunday leading up to Christmas, one more candle would be lit until the final Sunday before Christmas day where all four would be lighting the yule log in all its glory, the candles burning bright in a staircase pattern as the freshest candle was lit for the first time and the first-lit candle was burning close to the bottom.
I didn’t make the connection as a kid that this was part of an Advent tradition within the church, and I don’t recall if we ever talked about the four themes of Advent, but I do remember the candles shining and the way this marked the time leading to Christmas day.
When I eventually came to learn about the four traditional themes of advent, they naturally became a way for me to mark the season. No matter which advent study book I was reading through, or how I decided to mark the passing of the advent season, the four themes of advent became a root to lean into. Each season, the themes of Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love, revealed more to me about faith, about life, and about the Great Mystery of God that we lean into, trust, and celebrate the arrival of in human form at this time of year.
When Kimee and I set out to host Sacred Ordinary Full-Day Yoga + Contemplation Retreat, and then now with our Advent Half-Day Yoga + Contemplation Retreat, we set out to create nourishing experiences that lean into both the church calendar and the wisdom of God’s created world in nature surrounding us. As we looked to create a meaningful advent experience, we found ourselves captivated by these ideas:
The four traditional themes of advent as our leaning into the church calendar
The cycle of darkness and light in nature as we head into the season with the least daylight as our leaning into nature
Jesus as our light
As we began fitting these elements together, inspired by the Spirit, Illuminating Advent was created. Encompassing our passion for creation and the church calendar, Illuminating Advent invites us into an exploration of the darkness and light of the four traditional themes of advent to help us prepare for the advent season before us.
The cycle of darkness and light is all around us. We experience this daily with every sunrise and sunset; we experience it monthly watching the moon wax and wane from new moon to full moon; we experience it yearly as we notice winter bringing us more darkness and summer bringing us more light; we experience it in our very lives with moments of joy and celebration and sadness and grief; we experience it spiritually with times of desolation and consolation. Even when the sun is shining bright, shadows still exist. Even at midnight, the stars are illuminating the sky. Both darkness and light invite us into reflection and invite us to ask the question, ‘Where is God with me in this?’.
Too often, especially during advent, what is often felt like it’s supposed to be the ‘most wonderful time of the year’ can come with mixed feelings as we contemplate relationships lost, loved ones no longer with us, the reality of challenging circumstances, and a season that fills up quickly leaving us even forgetting to enjoy what’s taking place around us. When we show up to the season authentically, in our joy and grief, in our celebration and our sadness, in our trust and our apprehension, we allow God to speak to us in brand new ways. God, our light, is with us always. How are we meeting with God throughout this natural cycle of light and darkness? How can we acknowledge God as our light we seek in the darkest times? How can we celebrate the light when life is shining bright?
When we thought of the four traditional themes of advent, we considered the ‘flip sides’, or the ‘shadow sides’... When we think of the flip side of hope, it’s despair. When we think of the flip side of love, it’s separation and unworthiness… Each theme of advent has a flip side worth exploring as we hold space to acknowledge that in the midst of darkness there is light, and in the light we know darkness will inevitably come.
As we began to take these pieces and fit them all together, we came up with an outline of the day, then we flipped it all around to be a journey of darkness to light. As Kimee leads our first session of yoga, she will invite us into restorative shapes that give us space to explore the dark; to connect with God there, and remember God as our light in the darkness. As we light candles before moving into our flow, we illuminate the darkness, noticing how one by one, as each candle is lit, the light shines brighter and brighter, reminiscent of our own hearts set on fire for Christ burning brighter as we come together in times of contemplation, worship, and presence. As we flow, we will explore the light of our traditional themes of advent. We will remember God with us in, and as, our light, and will expand and radiate as we move on our mats.
This journey inward towards darkness, then outwards towards the light, is reminiscent of a labyrinth. The spiritual practice of walking a labyrinth invites you to slowly and prayerfully walk inwards towards the middle, then back out. With twists and turns, you can often feel like you have reached the middle, to be led right back to the outside edges. A practice in patience, acceptance, and focus on Christ, the labyrinth mirrors beautifully the journey of darkness to light we can experience during Advent. With this in mind, each person will get a finger labyrinth to take home with them to use throughout the season of advent. Along with the coordinating light and dark themes of advent and which Sundays they fall on, questions for intentional reflection to use with your labyrinth will invite you to find something deeper this advent. Not only will you get your labyrinth, at Illuminating Advent, you’ll actually get to craft your very own individual advent wreath candle holder. With earthy elements foraged from nature, you’ll light this each Sunday as you use your labyrinth.
Time in silence to contemplate your experience, sharing what you want to remember when you leave, festive snacks, mulled cider, laughter, connection with self, God, and others, will all wrap you in festive cheer and anticipation of the season of Advent as we gather together.
As I grew into adulthood and have enjoyed my own journey engaging with deepening the meaning behind Christmas with intentional Advent practices, lighting candles as I reflect on each theme during this season always feels extra nostalgic and significant. As we put the final touches on Illuminating Advent, Kimee and I pray that those who are attending will feel this same significance surface in the act of lighting a candle and remembering the cycle of darkness and light so that even our times outside of advent become filled with remembrance of Christ’s arrival.
Kimee and I would love for you to join us for this day! Click the link below to learn more and register!
